Written answers

Wednesday, 2 April 2008

9:00 pm

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 454: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has requested reports on the quality and standard of roads and footpaths in urban environments here; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that from a funding perspective, investing in road and pedestrian surfaces is at a considerable disadvantage to, for example calming measures, which have a dedicated source of finance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11231/08]

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The provision, improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in its area is a statutory function of each individual road authority under section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993, to be funded from it's own resources supplemented by State road grants.

Road grants for works on regional and local roads are allocated annually to local authorities under a variety of grant categories. These include, in the case of urban areas, road grants for specific improvement schemes, block grants and specific block grants for carriageway/footpath restoration, grants for safety measures at accident blackspots and grants for traffic management measures. It is a matter for each urban authority to determine the priorities in the expenditure of the funds available to it, both from State grants and from its own resources, for works on regional and local roads.

There have been significant increases in recent years in the level of State funding provided to local authorities for the provision, improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads. State funding in 2008 for regional and local roads, at over €618 million, is at its highest ever level and I am satisfied that these significant funds, which supplement expenditure by local authorities from their own resources, make reasonable provision for local authorities on-going regional and local road investment requirements.

As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme element of Transport 21. The implementation of individual national road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Act, 1993 in conjunction with the relevant local authorities concerned.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.